IDENTITY AND IDENTIFICATION

  It is said, "Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with shades of deeper meaning."

 A man goes into a restaurant and a waitress comes to take his order. He says, "I will have orange juice, scrambled eggs, toast, coffee, a danish and, oh yes, a good word." After a while, the waitress brings his order: Orange juice, scrambled eggs, toast, coffee and a danish.

  The man looks puzzled and she asks, "Did I forget something?"

  "Yes", he answers, "you forgot the good word."

"O.K.", she replies, "here's the good word, 

  don't eat the scrambled eggs."

   Let's talk words - words that will inspire and give us a direction in life. 

   The Torah Readiing, this morning, speaks of the historical event of קריעת ים סוף.  The Parsha  relates how the Jewish People escaped the onslaught of the Egyptian army by, miraculously, crossing over the Red Sea, reaching dry shore. At that moment they sang 'The Shirah' praising and giving thanks to Hashem.

   With this in mind, permit me to share with you two words that are often used, interchangeably, but are, actually, very different. 

  The two words are ״Identity״ and ״Identification״. Identity is a passive expression while Identification is active. One denotes conventionalism while the other connotes an act of commitment. 

    When one admits his Jewish lineage it confirms his Jewish identity. Identity even presupposes a feeling of national pride. 

  Identification is different, for it expands this identity syndrome. Identification is a desire to support those institutions which have insured Jewish survival. Jewish identity will fight to defend Jewish rights while Jewish identification will promote Jewish righteousness. 

   With this understanding, we can comprehend why the Jewish people waited till they crossed the Red Sea  to sing a Shirah to Hashem rather than doing so right after  they were redeemed from Egyptian slavery.

   Upon departing Egypt , the Jewish People had merely attained a Jewish Identity status as they did little to effectuate their deliverance. They were mere spectators as they watched Hashem vent His anger on the Egyptians and bring about their deliverance from Egyptian bondage. 

   However, on the shores of the Red Sea, with the Egyptians in hot pursuit, they had no alternative but to go forward or surrender to the enemy. It was at that moment that Nachshon showed  them the way, and jumped into the Sea, acting with Betachon and courage, bringing about the splitting of the Sea. At that moment they were no longer mere spectators they became proactive in bringing about their survival, culminating in their Geulah  Shlemah. Then and only then were they entitled  to sing that magnificent Shirah to Hashem. 

At that glorious moment in Jewish history this exhibited the true Jewish Identification, when the name Jew was more than a nominal designation.  

  At the Red Sea there was a metamorphosis from Identity to Identification. At that moment ישראל became an  עם, a great nation. 

   Thinking of this idea, I can appreciate the celebration of טו בשבט, this week.  For me, Arbor Day represents growth and renewal , not only for the trees , but more so for the Jewish People , as they take on their true Jewish identification and become active in their spiritual growth and not merely spectators in Jewish history. 

   Let us sing a song of praise to Hashem and as we do remember  Nachshon  as he jumped into the sea showing the world that we are active in our Jewish survival and that with our אמונת הי and our active commitment to our Judaic way of life we will be the catalyst to bring about our  

גאולה שלמה במהרה בימינו.  

                                    שבת שלום